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Patients to access health records by 2018, Jeremy Hunt pledges

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt told delegates at the Health and Care Innovation Expo that in three years patients will be able to access their records online and make changes or add to their notes

Patients will be able to access their entire health record electronically and add their own notes by 2018, the health secretary has announced.

In the United States where patients are able to access and make changes to their record, the number of inaccuracies had been reduced because they spot and correct mistakes, Jeremy Hunt said.

Addressing delegates at the Health and Care Innovation Expo in Manchester, Mr Hunt said patients are able to correct clinicians' errors on their notes.  

A quarter of patients will also be able to access notes on their smartphones in the next three years and book appointments.

Mr Hunt also announced that the Care Quality Commission would carry out an investigation into how trusts keep patient information secure. The announcement came on the same day that it emerged that an HIV clinic in London had accidentally released the names of hundreds of patients. Mr Hunt said the breach was 'totally unacceptable'.

He said that the technological developments would be more convenient for patients and allow them to take more responsibility for their health. But he added: 'We will throw that all away if the public does not trust that we will look after their data securely.'

He went on to say that a national data officer would be introduced on a statutory footing who will draw up a new set of protocols on data security for NHS organisations.